3Way Point Problems

[Walkingthedog]

Peco 3 way points are available in Code 100. SL-E99.

[508035]

My apologies, I meant the asymmetric 3 way in code 100

[Walkingthedog]

Point taken

[bulleidboy]

Peco SL-99 is an insulfrog 3-way point (but not asymmetric) - no asymmetric available in insulfrog . I am not sure whether you could convert your electrofrog point into an insulfrog version. I'm not saying it is impossible, but you are talking about isolating parts of the point - this is the advantage of the electrofrog in that it automatically isolates sections of the point and changes polarity when in operation. I think it would require a carefully thought out wiring diagram. Are you using point motors or changing by hand? There are a number of 3-ways on ebay - I appreciate it might mean sacrificing your 3-way, but it might be easier to start again?

[508035]

Hi Everyone

All my turnouts are hand operated, there are a couple where I am trying a format of manual switching of the turnouts by putting a small bend in a piece of brass wire ( the bent up piece being about the width of the ends of the jaws on long nose pliers ), the bent up part is fed through the tie bars of the turnouts and the rest of the wire is then fed underneath the tracks so that it is within easy reach for me to manually change them once the end of the wire is also bent upwards, this creates a place to hold the wire to switch the respective turnouts required for a particular move without too much stretching and a rats nest of cables under the boards.

The boards are currently at floor level until I can buy some wood to raise them up to a height of around 60" ( 5 ft ) off the ground which will be more comfortable to operate the layout without squashing my left side and aggravating a 17 year old shoulder issue.

[Brian]

Hi
Just so we are are all singing from the same sheet.....
The Peco Electrofrog three way point, regardless of its type - Asymmetric or not, must have some form of frog polarity switching used on the factory fitted frog wires. Bonding the three rails on each side doesn't relieve the need for frog polarity switching. There are electrically dead sections of rail within the point that must be feed with the correct polarity, depending on which way the point is set towards! Normally two change-over switches are used. Usually these are point motor operated, but where 'by finger' or 'wire in tube' operation is used they can be micro switches operated by the points two moving stretcher bars and each micro switch mounted so as its lever is moved by the stretcher bars throw. where WIT is used it can be the switch that moves the wire - SPDT slide switch etc.

[508035]

Hi Brian

Many thanks for your reply, shortly before reading your post I had just found another asymmetric turnout on ebay and I hasten to add, cheaper than the 1st which I purchased recently.

I was thinking of buying it but after reading through the replies, I am unure whether to do so as electronics can be difficult to workout if a problem occurs.

The main thing I have noticed with recent purchases of peco turnouts is that the links wires are not always easy to find whereas on older versions, when they were fipped over to reveal the underside, the link wireswere easily visible but now, it's like they're playing hide and seak.

Can I ask please, If I was to purchase another of thse nightmare asymmetric turnouts, what other items would be required to ensure that it would work correctly ?.

I can delete isolating connectors from the list of requirements as I purchased some only a week ago for my loco depot to allow multiple locos to stable on the same track.

[Brian]

Hi

You MUST have at least six Insulated Rail Joiners (IRJs) on a Electrofrog three way point. These all fit onto the rails leading away from the frogs (Vee rail ends). The outer two stock rails can have metal rail joiners fitted on DCC.

The frog wires which are factory fitted by Peco go to the 'Common' switch connection on the appropriate change over switch. The other tabs on these two switches connect to the rail / bus pair and one set of switch feeds to the rear is feed usually from the previous (first) switch.

TBH If youre in any doubt on how to wire any Electrofrog three way I suggest you might like to look at the Insulated frog version, which is far easier to use. (No special wiring!)

[508035]

Hi Brian

Last night after further mulling over what to do, I have managed to create possibly a strange looking track piece by shortening ( by 2 sleepers ) the straight exit track of a medium radius right hand turnout ( the left hand was left in original as purchased form ).

A new metal rail joiner was fitted onto the shortened exit track and the 2 were connected together. I have temporarily used a piece of brass to hold them together while the glued sleepers were fully curing but I have decided that I will solder the rails to ensure a reliable connection before it is installed on my layout. If anybody wants to see a picture of the strange looking piece I have created I will post a picture of it later.

Oddly enough, re the code 75 asymmetric turnout, I have had a reply from peco asking me to ring up and speak with their tech department about it.

[Walkingthedog]

Picture would be good, can’t quite make out what you have done. Don’t understand about the sleeper glue curing.